Sand sluicer adapted for removal of sand bars by ocean tides



Apnl 14, 1953 c. MONTAGNA SAND SLUICER ADAPTED FOR REMOVAL OF SAND BARS BY OCEAN TIDES Filed May 24, 1951 INVENTOR. C HIP/S TOP/IE I? MON 7A GNA Patented Apr. 14, 1953 7? "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAND SLUICER ADAPTED FOR REMOVAL OF SAND BARS BY OCEAN TIDES Christopher Montagna, Ocean City, N. J.

- 7 Application May 24, 1951, Serial No. 228,039 7 Claims. (01. 61-3) The object of my invention is to provide a sand .sluicer adapted for removal of bars that obstruct or prevent passage of boats of any substantial draught. Such bars frequently exist, or are formed, across an entrance to a bay or harbor from the ocean and at other points that are subjected to ocean tides. A further object of the invention is to provide such a sand sluioer that is operable solely by tide or water power in which the movementof the water is across the bar in both directions at various angles to the longitudinal direction of extension of the bar. Another object of the invention is to cause the sand sluicer to progressively lower as the sluicing progresses, such lowering continuin until a channel of desired depth is formed. A sluicer accomplishing the above objects and other minor objects hereinafter mentioned is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sluicer.

Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the series of plates constituting the main element of the sluicer.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the weights carried by each of the plates and its suspending means.

Spaced apart are a series of plates a arranged in parallel relation, adjacent plates being connected together at or near their upper edges by one or more (preferably two) connecting members b (preferably chains) and connected together at or near their lower edges by a similar connecting member or members 0. Each end plate of the series of plates a is connected to an anchor at by a connecting member or members e (preferably two chains) extending from adjacent the upper edge of the plate and by a connecting member or members ,1 (preferably two chains) extending from adjacent to the lower edge of the plate. The lower chains 1 are taut. The upper chains e are slack for a purpose hereinafter explained.

While the specific construction of the plates a is not an essential feature of the apparatus, each plate preferably consists of a panel of (say) six lengthwise-extending oak boards g, each about eight inches in width and about twelve feet in length. The boards 9 may be six in number, giving the plate a width (height in operation) of four feet. The plates a may be, for example, twenty feet apart. They may be of any number, dependent upon the length of the bar to be removed. The described dimensions and measurements are merely illustrative. The ends of the boards are reinforced by transverse bars 71., h, vertically positioned in operation. Additional hundred pound weight.

reinforcing bars 2, i, extend across the plate between the end bars h, h. The plate may be further strengthened by a bar is extending obliquely from one longitudinal edge to the otherlongitudinal edge of the plate and between the bars The reinforcing bars h, i and k may be applied to both sides of a plate. The bars 2' on opposite sides of the plate extend below the bottom of the plate and between these two bars is secured a weight m, which, for example, may be a The weight is adjustable vertically in any convenient way, as, for example, by scrcws or pins n extending through holes 0 in the bars 2' and abutting against,;or extendin into holes in, the weight.

It will be noted that the connecting chains 1), c, e and are connected to the plates by being directly secured to the reinforcing bars 1', by any convenient means, as by attachment to loops 1).

At opposite ends of each plate are mounted floats r tending to maintain the plates in an upright position.

Signals s are mounted onthe anchors d and extend up to any desired height, preferably to a height somewhat greater than the ultimate desired depth of the channel. One or more additional signals s are mounted on one or more of the plates. These signals give notice to approaching vessels of the sluicing operation and also indicate at any time the depth to which the apparatus has sunk below the water level.

The weight m need not be adjustable, but adjustability is desired, since if the back and forth current is relatively strong it is desirable for the weight to be raised, while if the current is relatively weak it is desirable for the Weight to be lowered.

In operation the whole apparatus is lowered over the bar to be removed by means of chains (not shown) removably attached to the upper edges of the plates. The plates, for instance, may carry loops t which may be engaged with hooks on the ends of the chains.

In operation the swells or waves of the ocean sweep back and forth between and over and under the plates a and cut away, little by little, more and more of the bar and sweep the sand to one side or the other of the bar. The taut connections 1 from each anchor and the weights m tend to prevent much movement of the lower edges of the plates, while the slack connections e between each anchor and the corresponding end plate allow movement of the upper edges of the plate in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the apparatus. That is, each plate swings back and forth on its lower edge as an axis.

As the sand between plates is sluiced laterally away from between and below the plates, the latter, under the influence of the Weights m, drop to the extent that the bar is cut away. The plates thus constantly seek a lower level and consequently, as the. sluicing operation proceeds, the cut deepens until, finally, that portion of the bar affected by the sluicing action is completelyremoved and a channel formed of the desired depth.

What is claimed is: 1. A sand sluicer adapted'for removal of. bars subjected to ocean tides for the purpose of forming a channel of any desired depth gsuch as at.

the entrance to a bay from the ocean, said sluicer comprising a series of spaced apart parallel plates, each plate adapted to extend transversely to the bar intended for..,removal and the series of plates adapted to extend longitudinally of "such bar, anchors beyond opposite ends of the series, at least two connecting members between 7 each anchor and the end plate more nearly ad- .gitudinal .edge. of each plate.

2. The sand sluicer as defined in claim 1 in which each plate comprises a series of boards extending longitudinally of the plate and reinforcing bars at the ends of the plate extending transversely thereto.

3. The sand sluicer as defined in claim 1 in which the weights extend below the lower lon- 4. The sand sluicer as defined in claim 1 in which each of a number of plates comprises reinforcing bars extending transversely of the plate, each bar at its lower end extending beyond the lower edge of the plate, and a weight secured to the part of each reinforcing bar extending beyond the lower edge of the plate, said weights being adjustable along said bars.

5. The sand sluicer as defined in claim 1 com-\ prising also floats secured to the plates adjacent their upper corners.

6. The sand sluicer defined in claim 1 in which signals extend upward from the anchors.

'7. The sand sluicer. defined in claim 6 in which one or more signals extend also upwardfrom one or more of said plates.

CHRISTOPHER MONTAGNA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 278,975 Koon June 5, 1883 1,643,691 Bignell Sept. 2'7, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 610,692 Germany of 1935 

